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RENEWING YOUR MINDYour enemy, Satan, will tempt you repeatedly and continually by appealing to your self-oriented feelingsand desires. You can resist his onslaughts by cooperating with God’s plan to renew your mind. Salvationis the first step in this process, and a committed life of obedience to God’s Word will insure that yourmind will be continually renewed to increasing Christlikeness (based on Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 12:2,2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:3; Galatians 5:17; Philippians 2:5-8, 13; Hebrews 5:14; James 1:14-15; 1 Peter 5:8;1 John 4:4).I. The renewal of your mind with regard to your growth in ChristA. Renewing your mind is the process by which your thoughts and your will become more andmore Christlike. The renewal of your mind is recognized by an increasingly faithful and obedientresponse to God’s Word (based on Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-32; Colossians 3:10-17).B. The consistent renewing of your mind is an integral part of your spiritual development(Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10)II. The renewal of your mind with regard to your personal responsibilitiesA. Graciously enabled by divine power (John 15:4-5; Philippians 2:13), you are to practicebiblical thinking (II Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8-9; Colossians 3:1-2).B. Your obedience to Scripture furthers the development of a Christlike mind (Hebrews 5:14;James 1:22-25). Scripture tells us to:1. Hear the Word (Romans 10:17) (e.g., by listening to preaching or teaching from God’sWord);2. Read the Word (I Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3) (e.g., by having daily devotions);3. Study the Word (I Timothy 2:15) (e.g., by investigating and learning scripturally basedprinciples of living, accurate doctrine, and godly examples to follow);4. Memorize the Word (Psalm 119:11) (e.g., by reviewing your memory verse cardsthroughout the day); and5. Meditate on the Word (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2) (e.g., by thinking of the personalapplication of God’s promises and commands to you).By doing the above, you provide opportunities for the Word of Christ to dwell richlywithin you (Colossians 3:16). Of equal importance, you are to practice the Wordespecially in known area of needed biblical change. As you continually do this, the spiritof your mind is being renewed to Christlikeness (based on Colossians 3:8-10;Hebrews 5:14).

III. The renewal of your mind within the process of your biblical changeHopeChangePracticeYour old selfYour new selfRenewing your mindThrough the Cross ofJesus Christ, your debtof sin has been paid(Romans 5:6-9;Ephesians 1:7;Colossians 2:13-14),and your old self hasbeen crucified withChrist(Romans 6:3-7;Galatians 2:20;Colossians 3:3).Since the old self hasbeen put off and thenew self has been puton, you are a totallynew person and areempowered by theresurrected life of JesusChrist to be conformedto His image.(Romans 6:4; 8:11,29;II Corinthians 5:17;Galatians 2:20;Ephesians 4:22-24).As a result, you aredirected by God’s Spirit(John 14:26; 16:13;Romans 8:14) and areable to understand thethings of God(I Corinthians 2:10-14),which are revealed inHis Word(II Timothy 3:16-17;Hebrews 4:12).The sinful anddestructive practices ofyour old self are to beput off(Romans 6:12-13;Ephesians 4:17-22;Colossians 3:5-9;Titus 2:11-12).Putting on Christlikecharacteristics(Colossians 3:10-17)leads you to please Godand edify others insteadof simply living toplease yourself(Luke 9:23-24;Romans 12:6, 15:2;II Corinthians 5:14-15;Galatians 5:13-17;Philippians 2:3-4)As a result, your mind isbeing continuallyrenewed(Colossians 3:8-10).You are continually toconsider yourself deadto sin and free fromslavery to sin(Romans 6:6-7, 11-12)and self-gratification(I Peter 1:14).Faithful and diligentobedience to the Lordenables you toovercome trials(James 1:2-4)and failures(Philippians 3:13-14;I John 1:9) andproduces Christlikematurity andfruitfulness in your life(II Peter 1:4-11).As a result, continualobedience to the Wordof God protects youfrom delusion andincrease your spiritualdiscernment andsensitivity to sin(Hebrews 5:14;James 1:22).

III. The renewal of your mind within the process of your biblical changeHOPEYour old self - Through the Cross of Jesus Christ, your debt of sin has been paid (Romans 5:6-9;Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13-14), and your old self has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:3-7;Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3).Your new self - Since the old self has been put off and the new self has been put on, you are a totallynew person and are empowered by the resurrected life of Jesus Christ to be conformed to His image.(Romans 6:4; 8:11,29; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:22-24).Renewing your mind - As a result, you are directed by God’s Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; Romans 8:14) andare able to understand the things of God (I Corinthians 2:10-14), which are revealed in His Word (IITimothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12).CHANGEYour Old Self -The sinful and destructive practices of your old self are to be put off (Romans 6:12-13;Ephesians 4:17-22; Colossians 3:5-9;Titus 2:11-12).Your New Self - Putting on Christlike characteristics (Colossians 3:10-17) leads you to please God andedify others instead of simply living to please yourself (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 12:6, 15:2; II Corinthians5:14-15; Galatians 5:13-17; Philippians 2:3-4)Renewing Your Mind - As a result, your mind is being continually renewed (Colossians 3:8-10).PRACTICEYour Old Self - You are continually to consider yourself dead to sin and free from slavery to sin(Romans 6:6-7, 11-12) and self-gratification (I Peter 1:14).Your New Self - Faithful and diligent obedience to the Lord enables you to overcome trials (James 1:2-4)and failures (Philippians 3:13-14; I John 1:9) and produces Christlike maturity and fruitfulness in your life(II Peter 1:4-11).Renewing Your Mind - As a result, continual obedience to the Word of God protects you from delusionand increase your spiritual discernment and sensitivity to sin (Hebrews 5:14; James 1:22).

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES: BIBLICAL STRUCTURE FOR CHANGEBiblical change is initiated in your life through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.As a new creation in Christ, you are empowered to make biblical changes in yourthoughts, words, and actions as you die to self and lovingly serve God and others(based on Matthew 22:37-39; Luke 9:23; John 3:5-6; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians10:31; II Corinthians 5:15, 17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 2:3-8, 3:12-14; Titus 3:5).Your steps for biblical changeA. The processEffective and lasting biblical change is a continuing process. You are to obeythe commands and guidelines in God’s Word for every area of your life (yourthoughts, words, and actions) (Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:2125;II Peter 1:2-4). As you stop (put off) the old continuing pattern of sin and being(put on) the new practice of righteousness and holiness, you are renewed inthe spirit of your mind (Romans 6:11-14, 16-23; 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24;Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 3:5-17; II Timothy 2:19).B. The “put-offs”In order to put off the old sinful habits, you must first identify them byexamining (judging) your life in light of God’s Word (Matthew 7:1-5; ICorinthians 11:28-31;II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12). Once you have specifically identified sins inyour life, you must repent of them (Proverbs 28:13; II Corinthians 7:9-10;Revelation 2:5), confess them (I John 1:9), and immediately put them aside(Romans 6:12-13a; II Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 4:25, 29, 31; 5:4; Colossians3:2, 5-9; II Timothy 2:22a).C. The “put-ons”As you put on righteous deeds (II Timothy 2:22b; Titus 2:11-12;) in the powerof the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 3:16-21, 5:18), you will glorify God(I Corinthians 10:31; I Peter 4:11), demonstrate your love for Him(Deuteronomy 10:12; Matthew 22:37; I John 5:3 II John 1:6), and please Him inall things (II Corinthians 5:9; Colossians 1:10).

BIBLICAL CHANGE IS A PROCESSYou may experience conflict within you as you constantly make choices between goodand evil, between doing what you want and doing what God wants. You must set yourmind to please God instead of yourself (based on Romans 7:19-25, 8:5-9; II Corinthians5:15; Galatians 5:17; Philippians 3:12-14; Colossians 3:1-2)I. Put-offs and put-onsA. In order to change your thoughts, words, and actions while following Christ, youmust learn and obey God’s Word. His Word lists many transgressions (atransgression is a deliberate crossing over of God’s boundary between right andwrong). These are to be put off and Christlike deeds are to be put on (forexample: Ephesians 4:22-32; Colossians 3:5-17). When a “put-off” is listed inScripture, there is an appropriate “put-on” given, often in the same passage. Forexample:Put-offPut-onFalsehoodEphesians 4:25Speaking the truthStealingEphesians 4:28Working and givingto those in needUnwholesome speechEphesians 4:29Edifying speech,according tothe need of themomentBitterness, wrath, anger,clamor, slander, maliceEphesians 4:31-32Kindness,tenderheartedness,forgiveness

B. Sometimes, a “put-on” is given in Scripture without an associated “put-off.” Thisinstruction is provided by God so you can know His will for your life in those areawhere you may be ignorant or neglectful of His way. Putting on biblical deedsthat you have previously omitted to practice brings glory to God’s name(Matthew 5:16; I Corinthians 10:31-33). For example:1. Make disciples, baptizing and teaching them (Matthew 28:19-20);2. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Christ(Colossians 3:17);3. Put on the full armor of God and stand firm (Ephesians 6:13-20);4. Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him (Colossians 1:10); and5. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks(I Thessalonians 5:16-18).II. Prayer and actionA. Prayer is necessary to the obedient Christian life (Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 4:2;I Thessalonians 5:17). It is the first action you should take and is essential toexperience God’s peace (Philippians 4:6-7) and forgiveness in your life (I John1:9).B. However, prayer alone will not bring about the fullness of God’s plan for your life.You also need to act specifically and obediently (Matthew 7:24-27; Philippians2:12-13, 4:9; James 1:22-25; I John 3:22) by putting off thoughts, words, andactions that dishonor the name of Christ and, in their place, putting on new waysof thinking, speaking, and acting that reflect the character and image of Christ(Romans 6:6-7, 12-13, 17-19; 8:29; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:1-5, 4:5-6)III. Failure and confessionA. If you fail, it is possible to please God again by responding biblically. You do thisby acknowledging and repenting of your sins to God, which is part of confession(I John 1:9). At the time that is biblically appropriate, confess your sin to thoseagainst whom you have sinned (James 5:16) with a view to reconciliation(Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 12:18).

B. When you confess your sins to God and develop a pattern of recognizing sin anddealing with it God’s way, you acknowledge His Lordship (Psalm 51:1-4; Luke6:46). This enables you to have unhindered communication with your HeavenlyFather (Psalm 66:18) and to have a fruitful prayer life (I John 3:22).C. When you consistently confess your sins to others, you encourage harmoniousrelationships (Romans 12:18) and demonstrate the difference that Jesus makes inyour life (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 4:32-5:1).